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We think that we are changing the environment, causing extinctions and so forth. Is it true? Intelligence has existed for a very short period of time. A Million years from now, could you even tell we were here? If we get truly harmful to our planet, will it shake us off like fleas from a dogs back? Or have our vaunted big brains truly given us complete control?

2007-03-26 11:15:09 · 3 answers · asked by kurbet5000 2 in Science & Mathematics Biology

3 answers

I think there can be little doubt that our intelligence has been a critical factor in our success so far. Humanity has dominated just about every ecological niche that it cares to, and there isn't really much that we have other than intelligence that other species don't have far, far better.

But I think it is also pretty obvious that intelligence is not the ONLY factor. After all, how many people would last even a week alone in the wilderness? That particular skill is one that almost none of us need because of other traits - we are social, communicative, instinctive tool users, and many other things that make our intelligence useful. Were a creature without all these traits to develop intelligence, it probably WOULD be an evolutionary dead-end.

The question you're really asking with your allusions to ecological disaster is, "even if we are intelligent, are we intelligent ENOUGH?". To which I think I can confidently answer no. Most people are NOT intelligent enough. Many are lucky if they have enough foresight to prevent negative consequences even a month in advance, much less a hundred years or more.

Fortunately for them, they don't have to be. As I mentioned before, all it really takes are a FEW smart ones to share the answers and a lot of less smart ones willing to carry them out. Even that latter factor may become unnecessary as the smart ones come up with better and better ways of doing things!

And frankly, I have yet to hear of a disaster that would wipe out all of us. Even if the entire surface of the Earth were made completely uninhabitable, there are plenty of nooks and crannies (some designed with this intentionally in mind) in which enough people might live to carry things on. If we pack all the smart ones in there, it may not even matter too much if we lose the rest.

So it's not that I have faith in our complete control (if that were even achievable), but rather in our inventiveness. If we are clever enough to make huge messes, we are probably clever enough to clean them up as well.

2007-03-26 11:48:22 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0 0

Intelligence holds It's reputation But the answer is always there, nothing is ever forgotten. Human race supposed to try and be real, Positive thoughts Human race still looking for Just to control the next these new generations. that grabs attention. it's a long piece of cord impregnated with cheap thoughts.. Strangles Intelligence hopes to waste and numbs the taste,

2007-03-26 12:04:55 · answer #2 · answered by ? 2 · 0 0

Intelligence holds it rather is acceptance however the respond is often there, not something is ever forgotten. Human race meant to objective and be real, useful techniques Human race nevertheless searching for just to administration the subsequent those new generations. that grabs interest. it particularly is an prolonged piece of twine impregnated with affordable techniques.. Strangles Intelligence hopes to waste and numbs the style,

2016-10-20 00:02:06 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

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